NPNF2-08. Basil: Letters and Select Works - Holy Bible Institute

The creation of fowl and water animals.beyond bounds; but when I reflect upon the inexhaustible wisdom which is displayed in theworks of creation, I seem to be but at the beginning of my story. Nevertheless, I have notdetained you so long without profit. For what would you have done until the evening? Youare not pressed by guests, nor expected at banquets. Let me then employ this bodily fast torejoice your souls. You have often served the flesh for pleasure, to-day persevere in theministry of the soul. “Delight thyself also in the Lord and he shall give thee the desire ofthine heart.” 1684 Do you love riches? Here are spiritual riches. “The judgments of the Lordare true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold and preciousstones.” 1685 Do you love enjoyment and pleasures? Behold the oracles of the Lord, which,for a healthy soul, are “sweeter than honey and the honey-comb.” 1686 If I let you go, andif I dismiss this assembly, some will run to the dice, where they will find bad language, sadquarrels and the pangs of avarice. There stands the devil, inflaming the fury of the playerswith the dotted bones, 1687 transporting the same sums of money from one side of the tableto the other, now exalting one with victory and throwing the other into despair, now swellingthe first with boasting and covering his rival with confusion. 1688 Of what use is bodilyfasting and filling the soul with innumerable evils? He who does not play spends his leisureelsewhere. What frivolities come from his mouth! What follies strike his ears! Leisurewithout the fear of the Lord is, for those who do not know the value of time, a school ofvice. 1689 I hope that my words will be profitable; at least by occupying you here they haveprevented you from sinning. Thus the longer I keep you, the longer you are out of the wayof evil.An equitable judge will deem that I have said enough, not if he considers the riches ofcreation, but if he thinks of our weakness and of the measure one ought to keep in thatwhich tends to pleasure. Earth has welcomed you with its own plants, water with its fish,air with its birds; the continent in its turn is ready to offer you as rich treasures. But let usput an end to this morning banquet, for fear satiety may blunt your taste for the eveningone. May He who has filled all with the works of His creation and has left everywhere visible1011684 Ps. xxxvii. 4.1685 Ps. xix. 9 and 10, LXX.1686 Ps. xix. 10.1687 The κύβοι were marked on all six sides, the ἂστράγαλοι on only four, the ends being rounded.1688 With Basil’s description of the gaming tables, presumably of Cæsarea, cf. Ovid’s of those of Rome: “Irasubit, deforme malum, lucrique cupido; Jurgiaque et rixæ, sollicitusque dolor. Crimina dicuntur, resonat clamoribusæther, Invocat iratos et sibi quisque deos, Nulla fides: tabulæque novæ per vota petuntur, Et lacrymis vidi sæpemadere genis. De A.A.iii. 373 seqq.1689 “Cernis ut ignavum corrumpant otia corpus.” Ovid, I. Pont. 6. “Facito aliquid operis ut semper Diabolusinveniat te occupatum. Jerome, In R. Monach.343